‘Belong Anywhere’

Introducing Annie, Neil, Badge and Vince - the characters for our upcoming play Th'Air BnB.

What started off as just randomly plucked names, casually jotted down on a blank piece of paper, have now turned into fully formed characters. We could tell you their favourite foods, what TV shows they like, their political leanings and aspirations.

We've been sculpturing these four characters for the last 6 months. They've become part of us - or perhaps it's that we’ve become part of them - it's hard not to put yourself into a character. The real fun, however, is thinking entirely outside the box when developing these characters and going down a road that is totally unfamiliar to you - the writer.

Like bringing up a child, you start off nurturing your characters and pointing them in the direction you feel you want them to go. If you want them to be shy - then shy they shall be. You want a loud little so-and-so - you write it, and Varuca Salt they will become. The pen is your weapon - the imagination your ammunition! Much like what I can imagine parenting is like, there comes a point where you can no longer influence your characters, they instead take life into their own hands. I'm finding this with Annie, Neil, Vince and Badge. They’re now telling us where the story will go and how they will react. We think we know them and then a new development occurs, and they respond in a way that surprises us. I wonder if you ever truly know your characters inside out; just like do you ever truly know your loved ones?

We've gone as far as we can with them now though. The script is finished - the final words have been written.

We'll never watch these 4 grow old, but hopefully we've given them enough of a personality that we can hazard a guess as to where life will take them next.

Am looking forward for you to meet these 4. A mixture of feisty, arty, sophisticated and reserved. But who's who by the end of it?!

Th'Air BnB - The new play by Tuppenny Bunters. Performed for the very first time this Thursday at The Dixon Studio; Palace Theatre.